The Voice of Liberal Learning: Michael Oakeshott on Education

This collection of the major writings of Oakeshott, a leading British political philosopher of this century, emphasizes the distinctive features of his educational philosophy. Quick solutions, cultural checklists, great books canons, such as advocated by prominent contemporary educational reformers, are not among his recommendations. Instead, as noted in the informative introduction by Fuller, political scientist at Colorado College, Oakeshott concentrates on ``the elusive features inherent in good teaching and learning without obscuring the great variability in manners of teaching which defy generalization.'' ``Conversation,'' as it is experienced in liberal learning, is the alternative vision Oakeshott offers. The educational reflections of a modern philosopher, whose exemplar is Socrates, are anchored in his own happy schooldays and presented in his lucid contributions to the philosophy of education. (Mar.)